Counterbalance tape connecting means



June 2, 1953 E. M. TRAMMELL, sR.. ETAL 2,

COUNTERBALANCE TAPE CONNECTING MEANS Filed March 21, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS EARL M. TRAMMELL SR.

EARL. M. TRAMMELL JR. BY

' ATTORNE;

June 2, 1953 E.'M. TRAMMELL, sR.. ErAL' COUNTERBALANCE TAPE CONNECTING. MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 21, 1949 INVENTORS M. TRAMMELL SR.

M. TRAMMELL JR.

ATTORNE Patented June 2, 1953 COUNTERBALANCE TAPE CONNECTING MEANS Earl M. Trammell, Sr., and Earl M. Trammell, Jr., St. Louis, Mo.

Application March 21, 1949, Serial No. 82,594

16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in: separable connections between sliding sash and counterbalance means, and more particularly to improved fixtures of a novel type through which a counterbalance may be operatively connected to or disconnected from the sash which it serves. This result may be realized by manipulation of the sash, thus resulting in an automatic or semi-automatic means for counterbalance tape capture in removable sash assemblies. The present invention constitutes certain improvements over and modifications of the subjects of an application for patent by these applicants, bearing Serial No. 53,922, filed October 11, 1943, and entitled Counterbalance Connections for Sliding Sash. The present improvements are of particular advantage when utilized in connection with a window assembly embodying provisions for manual removal and reapplication of the sash, such, for example, as exemplified by Patent 2,426,474 issued to these applicants August 26, 1947, and entitled Sash and Sash-Guiding Means.

To state the gist of the present invention and to summarize the features thereof, these consist of the provision of a connector consisting of companion, detachably interfitting fixtures, one of which is carried by the sash and the other of which is secured to a counterbalance tape, cord or the like. These fixtures in a preferred, advanced form disclosed herein, include a hook on one thereof, and a hook-bar on the other fixture, together with certain camming provisions by which, responsively to sash movement,

the hook and bar are disengageable, and are similarly susceptible of quick and easy reconnection.

side of the structure, and designating by location certain of the fixtures and features identified with the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a substantially enlarged sectional elevation of parts of the structure of Fig. l, as viewed along line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, further enlarged sectional elevation as viewed along line 33 of .-F l

Fig. 4 is a view, primarily sectional in nature, through an upper marginal portion of the sashway assembly showing a portion of the lower sash approaching a position to permit its removal, this view being taken along line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar in nature to Fig. 4 but illustrating a fixture catch in raised position to permit a disconnection or reconnection of a sash fixture and a tape fixture;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing, on an enlarged scale, a portion of the tape-carried fixture of Figs. 4 and 5, and particularly as viewed along line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged, elevational view as taken along line 1-4 of Fig. 6, Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrating a type of connector particularly adapted for detachably connecting the bottom sash and counterbalance;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of portions of the upper left hand corner region of a sash and counterbalance assembly, showing the type of connector particularly suitable for use in making and breaking connection between an upper sash and counterbalance;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly in elevation, as taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, somewhat foreshortened, and showing a tape-mounted fixture operatively disconnected from the sashcarried fixture of this assembly;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, the sectional portions of which are taken along line H-H of Fig. 10, and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary horizontal section as taken along line I2--l2 of Fig. 11.

Referring by characters of reference to the drawing for description of the parts and their functions, the upper sash is indicated generally at It and the lower sash generally designated at i I. Each such sash comprises sash stiles l2 and [3, check rails it and IS, the usual inside casing, stool ll, apron l8, and a blind stop 19, and may include other usual framing and sash elements, all familiar to those skilled in this art. There may, however, be mentioned for completeness, a vertical or pulley stile indicated at 25, into a groove or channel of which is set the parting bead 28.

The sash assembly illustrated is of a type including rolling elements for guiding each of the upper and lower sash to assure smoothness and ease of operation, and is further of such nature as to facilitate manual removability of the sash, as heretofore mentioned. These latter provisions serving the lower sash rollers.

that the term removable,

include, at the opposite sides of each sashway, a metal track element 3! provided with suitable fastening portions 3|, by which each such rail is kept in place in vertical position Within the sashway. The term sashway as employed herein, denotes the several channel-forming and frame elements within and along which each sash ill or H is guidedly movable and normally restrained to operation in its own plane, for example as to the upper sash, the sashway is formed by the members 28, and it, at each of the opposite vertical margins, together with the transverse or horizontal elements at the ends of the window frame.

Coasting with the rails so, there are provided in the assembly shown, a plurality of roller fixtures, which are generally indicated at as. These roller fixtures are in the regions of the opposite lower and opposite upper margins of each sash as shown, and need include only a short U-shape metal member, the sides of which are bridged by a roller axis element such as pin (Figs. 8, 4 and '7) about which rotates a roller 3? of metal, fiber or other material making for long life and quiet operation. Each roller 3'5 is provided with a V groove 49, and each of the rails 30 is pro vided.- with a beveled or apexed ball or rollerengaging surface portion, as will appear from Fig. 3 for example. Certain of the fixtmes 34 embodying the rollers, may include a spring (not shown) tending to bias the roller outwardly of the sash, as for sash centering purposes.

By preference a clearance is provided considerabl-y exceeding the usual spacing in a sliding sash. assembly, between the pulley stiles and each adjacent vertical sash stile, this abnormal spacing being. provided along at least one, and preferably each of the opposite sides of each sash, as. is indicated at ll.

For the purpose of permitting easy reinovability of the sash, each or the rails 36 on one side of the frame, in this. case the left hand side, is provided in particular locations along the sashway, with recessed or cutaway portions there being two such recesses, for the rollers 37 on the left hand side (Fig. 1) of each sash, the recesses 43 Corresponding cutaway portions i l in the rail at the left hand margin accommodate the rollers of the upper sash. These track recesses, together with the clearance provided laterally of each of the sash,

:asindicated at 4|, enable each of. the sash. when positioned with its pulleys 3i opposite the comlater be described. more fully.

The structure as thus far described includes certain features of a novel removable sash assembly disclosed and claimed in a copending application of these applicants, filed May 11, 194%? under Serial No. 92,572 and entitled Window Units and Accessories, with reservation of claims to such features in that application.

The present application distinguishes from the last said copending application in being directed to the features and elements providing for automatic connection and disconnection of the count erbalance to the sash. It should here be noted and relatedv and derived terms, are not intended to impart any necessary restriction of present subject matter, as to its application and use, to sash and sash assemblies of the particular nature herein disclosed, the hardware, fixture and connector items 4 to be described being susceptible of application to numerous other, even some conventional forms of sliding sash.

In the example shown by the drawings, it is contemplated that removability be provided for when each sash is moved to a more or less predetermined location in its own sashway. As a practical matter, this removal m best provided for as each sash approaches its maximum open position, e. g., the upper sash I0 will, for purposes of removal, be brought near a bottom position, and the lower sash will be moved to or near its uppermost position. This arrangement assures the normal guided actuation of the sash throughout all or most of its usual range of opening and closing movement.

With the foregoing noted for a general understanding of a primary purpose of the several fixtures, it may be mentioned that each sash is provided above and generally in line with its sashway, with one or a pair of counterbalance units. Since these units per se form no partof the present improvements, a general reference thereto is sufficient by noting that, as shown by Fig. 8, the unit generally indicated at 50 contains a spring, usually one of clock-spring type, together with a, spring arbor and spring anchorage within the casing, the spring being operatively connected to a tape or some equivalent flexible tension element indicated at 5! and provided with an attachment loop 52, the unit 50 being provided with extensions 53 and 5-! suitably apertured for mounting in the upper portion of the window frame. It has been found that, in a guided rolling sash such as disclosed, windows of usual or narrow width are sufiiciently counterbalanced with a single unit 50, whereas in windows of greater than usual width, a pair of counterbalances are usually provided, one above each side of the sashway. As to the connection from sash to counterbalance, a fixible metallic tape 5! is shown; according to manufacturing preference and availability it will be understood that such a flexible tension element may consist of a cord, chain, fabric tape or other equivalent, the term tape being herein employed in a generic sense, and expressly without restriction to this particular type of tension element.

Proceeding now to describe the connectors between the sash and counterbalance, more particularly between the sash and tape or like flexible element, there will first be described the fixtures preferred for connection between the lower sash H and its counterbalance. It, will of course be understood that the counter-balances may as above stated, be utilized in pairs, with one unit connected to each of the opposite lateral margins of the sash. Since these units may be duplicates, for brevity a single such counterbalance is shown as serving each sash, and the description will be restricted to such arrangement. Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the form now to be described, and it will appear fromFig. 4 as a preference that the lower sash H be recessed as at '60, if desired this recess being an extension of that occupied by an adjacent roller assembly 34. The track 30 is shown adjacent such recess, as is one of the roller recesses 43, as same would be located in the track. In the assembly of Figs. 4 and 5 a first or sashmounted fixture includes a mounting plate 61 positioned as by suitable screws, and extended laterally of which at about a right angle, is a bifurcate hook-forming plate 62. The plate 62 is partly separated inwardly of its free margin to form spaced furcations 63 which are projected outwardly of the sash and turned downwardly of the horizontal.

Coacting with the hook formed by members 63, is a cross bar or head 64 which extends transversely of the lower 01' free end of a relatively rigid rod or shank 65, the parts Bill and 65 forming parts of a second or tape-carried fixture. The body of such second fixture includes, besides the bar and rod or shank 65, a channel member 66, the base portion of which is apertured near its upper end as at B1 to receive the bight 16 of tape 5|, the end of the tape being for example, attached by bringing same through opening 61, thence folding the tape back upon itself and effecting final securement as by a rivet or the like.

In case it be desired, as is greatly preferred, to provide for automatic make and break of the sash-tape connection, the second fixture of this connector preferably includes a camming extension which in the disclosure consists of a short lever arm ll constituted by an extension at the upper end of each of the side pieces of the channel 66. The uppermost margins of the camming extension H are formed at an acute angle to the median of the channel, for a purpose hereinafter better appearing. It will be seen from Figs. 4, 5 and 6 that the channel 55 terminates somewhat above the lower end of the fixture, the bottom or back plate of the channel being con-- tinued into the shank or rod 65. Pivotally secured to the lower ends of the channel sides is a swingable catch 12 best shown by Figs i and 6. This consists of opposite side members pivoted through rivets or pins 13, these sides being characterized by outturned right angular feet, one on each of thesides of the swingable catch, each such foot portion being designated at M. The sides of the catch 12 are preferably bridged as by a plate 35 provided with a pull knob or the like 16.

Since it is desirable in a manually removable sash assembly wherein distinct sash removal positions are provided, to establish such removal positions close to a limit of sash travel, this provision has been carried into the present design as will appear-from the fact that the roller of assembly 3% in Fig. 4 is just approaching its removalrecess 43 in the track, and the lower sash H is approaching a top position in its sashway. With the parts as in Fig. 4, the sash I I may not be moved appreciably higher, since only a minor such further movement will bring the top margin of sash ll into abutment with the feet M, while themembers H are in abutment with an upper portion of the sashway, in this case the lower portion of the casing of the counterbalance unit 50. In this manner this connector provides a vertically rigid abutment, rendering impossible any casual or unintended disturbance of the normal guided relation of the sash to its sashway.

When, however, it is desired to remove the sash, this may be accomplished by obviating the usual function of the channel 66 and catch 72 as a vertical distance piece or block between the sash and upper rail, merely by lifting knob 86 to swing upwardly the catch '12 to bring it to a right angled or release position as shown by Fig. 5, following which the sash may be lifted further through the distance represented by the vertical dimension of the catch, and sufiicient to bring therollers on the sash opposite and hence permitting movement of the rollers into their respective recesses suchas 43.

- g A further im'portantresult is noted in providing for an automatic disconnecting operation between the fixtures of this connector assembly. The augmented upward movement of the sash possible with catch 72 lifted, causes the channel 66 to rock about the outer portions of its camming extensions H thus imparting a turning moment which, in Figs. 4 and 5, is in a clockwise direction, shifting the bar 64 to the left. Such movement, not necessarily more than a few degrees in extent, is now sufficient to withdraw the; hook bar 64 away from its normally seated, hooked relation to the fingers 63. Depending upon the length of such fingers, this may if desired, amount to a full disengagement of the bar and the hook fingers. It has however been found that to bring the bar 64 to a position fully free of the seat in the inverted .V-shaped recess of the fingers 63, will readily enable completion of separation of the hook and bar by the lateral withdrawal of the sash, as is contemplated. It is of course to be noted that as soon as the upper end portion of the channel 66 of the tape-carried fixture abuts a head element of the sashway, the tape tension is taken entirely by the upper end of the fixture and hence the sa'sh and sash carried fixture are relieved of tape bias, thus freeing these parts for manipulation and removal At the same time the elements of the tape-carried fixture will be automatically retained in a position as shown by Fig. 5, ready for reapplication of the sash and sash-carried fixture solely by manipulation of the sash.

It has been found of advantage to proportion the width of the shank or rod 65 such that it may extend between the fingers 63. The converging inner edges of the fingers 63 thus provide an inherently centering function as the sash is reapplied, in a manner to assure that the bar '62 is equally engaged with the hook seats of both fingers 63 and so that. the tape is properly centered with respect to the sash.

It will have been understood that removal of the sash l I upon bringing the sash rollers opposite the recesses 63, enables a manual movement of the sash to the left (Figs. 4 and 5), as is possible by reason of the considerable side clearance 4|. When this is done, the right hand side of the sash will clear its track and stops, and may be bodily brought toward the operator, as by a swinging movement, and may then be moved to the right so as to clear fully the left hand track, stops, and other adjacent elements of the sashway. Reapplication will consist of an opposite sequence of the steps just recited;

It is important to note that the connector consisting of the sash-carried fixture and the companion tape-carried fixture, is fully operative even without the provision of the catch 12, in that any movement of sash ll above the position shown by Fig. 4, is not assisted by the counterbalance, in view of the abutment of member 66 at'its upper end. The catch 12 however serves, as noted, to preclude accidental disturbance of the normal functional relation between the sash, sashway and the connector elements.

Proceeding-now to describe the form of conmotor and fixtures thereof preferred for connection between the upper sash, the counterbalance serving same and counterbalance tape, a special connector for this purpose is best shown by Figs. 8 through 12, certain elevational details of this connector being also shown by Fig. 2. In the connector of this form, the upper sash I0 is .pro-

'vided at each or on one of its lateral margins aeaaeae with a hook fixture which incliulesv a mountin plate 8!! suitably drilled for attachment screws 8!, through which the fixture, is mounted, similarly to the members 6i, and E2 earlier described, in a groove or recess shown as at the upper left hand margin of the sash. The-plate lllliis, at least over a part of its length, of a, channel: formin section (see Fig. 12) and is characterized by a somewhat wider channel formation 82 near the base portion 80, and outwardly of the portion 82 is a portionof somewhatlesser width and. length, and indicated at 83. The width of the channel portion 83 still somewhat exceeds the widthv of a shank portion of a companion fixture to. be described.

The outermost part of the, channel structure of this fixture is characterized in the example shown, by two vertically; spaced pairs of fingers, the upper of which, indicated. atv 84, are in the form of spaced: fu caticnaand are outwardly and downwardly curved so as to form beneath, such fingers and with the remainderof the sides of, the channel, an inverted, substantially V-shaped hook element for coaction with a hook bar of the companion fixture, later described; The lowermost pair of fingers, indicated at 85,, also extendoutwardly and domiwardly, the under surfaces 86 of which form as will appear, bar camming surfaces, and are presented at an acute angle to the base channeland at a, similar angle tothe normal line of tape travel. The upper surfaces 8! or the upper pair of fingers, also under certain conditions constitute bar camming surfaces in a function which will be described following reference to the elements ofv the comanion fixture.

The tape-mounted fixture serving and coasting with the hoohfixture just. described, is best seen by Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The major or body element of this fixture consistsoi a. relatively rigid shank or rod of flat form, and is, indicated at 90, the upper end of whichis of somewhatgreater width forming a plate 9i slotted asat 92' for connection to the tape -,lin a manner which, may be identical with, the tape securement to themember 66, heretofore described. The lowermost end of the rods]! is widened to constitute a hook bar or head 93, the widthof which exceeds somewhat the spacebetween thefingers b4 and 85, the opposite extremities of. the head 33 thus normally being engaged. with and in the inverted Vrshape notch of fingers 84, substantially as shown by Fig. 8.

Located in theregion of the juncture. of the plate 9| and the rod or shank, 90, a: flat rotat. able catch 94, a, rivet 95, or equivalent serving as a central pivot for securement, of the catch 94 to the body, or more particularly to theyplate Qiof this fixture, Normally the catchii t, which will be frictionally retained in. any position in which it is manually; disposed, will lie with its major axis vertical andpara-llelto the body of the fixture as in Fig. 9', inwhichposition it: is out: o1 action, or inoperative, When, however, it, is desired to condition the upper sash connector to permit removal of the, sash, withcaptiveretene tion of the counterbalance ta thecatch 94 is rotated to a crossposition,as-shown by Fig. 10, through about 9,0,. degrees... Normally when. the sash H). is inits. top Ql'fiflllrClOSfid; position, the greater part orthe length hefi u-re: rec d into the counterbalance-housingas shownby: 8,, this fixture being free to move through. the m slot or; port; of th counterbalance. fixture. When, however, it is desired to condition, the

fixture to permit sash removal, the upper sash H1 is slightly lowered to bring the catch 94.- below the tape opening, and the catch turned transversely to the fixture'as shown by Fig. 10. When the sash is again moved upwardly, the uppermost end margins of the catch will bridge and seat themselves in paired opposite recesses 36 in the lowermost margins of the side elements of the counterbalance housing, these recesses being adjacent the tape opening, In order to move the sash above such a position, a somewhat greater effort will be required, since upwardly of such position the sash ceases to be served by the counterbalance. The sash, is, however, free to be lifted and in so, doing, the upper fingers 84 will, disengage themselves from, the cross bar 93. The upper pair of fingers 84 can, however, be moved upwardly along the shank 90 as will occur until the cross head 83 engages the upper surfaces 91 of the fingers which, act as, camrning surfaces to deflect the bar out of range, of the fingers.

The sash it is now fully raised, as in Fig. 11, then lowered somewhat, and under this latter movement the camming surfaces 88 will engage the ends of bar 93, deflecting it to, the right (Fig. 1.1) causing the bar to enter the widened portion 8.2 or the channel, along which members Sill and 93 may move relatively to the sash fixture and free of the hooks. Thehookfixture 80, etc. of course moves with the sash, and the tape fixture remains in a pendantpositionin the upper portion of the path of travel of. the sash, ready for reapplication thereto of the sash, fixture, when the sash is restored to normal operating relation to the sashway.

Assuming now that it be desired to remove the upper sash this may be readily done by bringing the sash Hi to a position such that its rollers on its left hand margin are brought opposite the recesses i l, thus enabling a movement of sash 10 to the left (Fig. l) with the sash margin brought into the normally unoccupied clearance space ll suificiently to cause the right hand. side of the sash to clear its track and stops. The

- righthandedge of the sash may thenbe brought bodily toward the operator as with a swinging movement, then moved: edgewise or in its own plans to the right a distance such that the sash will clear the left hand stops, etc. of. the-sashway. Reapplication oi sash it, may of course be accomplished by reversing the recited sequence of the steps of removal.

In a most complete form of the assembly, provision is made to preclude unintended movement of the upper sash It to a position such that its track rollers might enter recesses 2. 3. While such a provisionis more fully coveredby the copending application last referred to, it may be here noted for completeness that a two-position stop 99 ismountecl in the sashway, (see Fig. 2). When stop 99 is in its uppermost position, the sash H1 cannot be lowered quite sufficiently to permit its rollers to be laterally moved into recesses 46. The stop may, however, be quickly manually shifted to a lower position, in which it forms an abutment, stopping the downwardtravel of the sash at exactly the elevation suitable to permit the roller assemblies 34 to enter their track recesses, and thus to permit manual removalv oi the upper sash as heretofore described.

Assuming now the upper sash to have been restored to operating relation in itssashway, the sash will, be moved upwardly, and. somewhat before it reaches a top position, the, upper cam surfaces 8-! of fingers 84, will first engage the head or bar 93 near its outer endsyand will deflect the bar laterally, or to the left (Fig. 8). As the sash is moved still further'upwardly, the shank 90 will normally rock to the left through a few degrees about a transverse axis identified with the upper margin of the catch 94 and the recesses 96, causing the shank or rod 98 again to assume a substantially vertical position. A slight descending movement of the sash will reengage the hook fingers 94, 84 and bar 93 which effect is audible to the operator as a minor clicking sound. Following the reconnecting operation, the sash is lowered to relieve the catch 940i balance loading, followed by manual rotation of the catch to a position to clear the notches 96. After this, the sash will function normally through its entire range of travel, and will be served by the counterweight and tape.

It is noted that when the sash is disengaged from fixture 9093, the spring loading of the balance remains on the fixture. Its elements are thus spring-centered, since when deflected either way from a vertical position, the tape pull will tend to restore the shank and bar to the vertical after deflection of the bar by any of the camming elements described. This effect further results in a positive reengagement of the bar and hook fingers, as described, when the sashis fully restored to its operative balanced connection through the sash and tape fixtures.

As will have appeared, that portion of the tape-carried fixture identified with the shank 90, serves similarly to the portion 65 above described as a relative rigid distance piece serving effectively to limit the casual upward movement of the upper sash when the catch 94 is set. Further, for reasons described, the tape is at all times either connected to the sash; or, similarly to the connector for the bottom sash, is positioned in a predetermined captive relation to permit either removal of the sash from the tape or functional reapplication of the sash to the tape. Further, as will have been observed, the actual engagement and disengagement of the fixtures constituting the companion elements, may be efdetailed reference to certain selected forms ofconnectors especially adapted for the lower and upper sash of a. double-hung sash assembly with sash removal provisions, the detail of description should be understood as instructional, rather than restrictive, numerous variants being possible within the intended scope of the claims hereunto appended.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a counterbalance disconnecting device, for use between a sash and a balance tape, a pair of interfitting fixtures one of which is secured in use to an end region of a counterbalance tape, and the other carried by a sliding sash in a sashway-forming assembly, one of said fixtures including an arm, the other said fixture formed to provide a socket normally interengaged by said arm, the fixtures being formed to permit their disengagement, and one of said fixtures having a lateral extension provided with a camming surface and arranged when the sash is brought to a predetermined position, to effect a translatory movement of at least one of the fixtures, to effect a separation of said arm and socket and facilitate removal of the sash to which the device is fitted, the tape-carried fixture including an abutment .coacting in the sashway to limit tape move! 10 ment and to promote translatory movement of said fixture.

2. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited by claim 1, but further characterized in that said translatory movement in separating the arm of one fixture and the socket portion of the companion fixture is adapted to be efiected by vertical actuation of the sash to which one of the fixtures is connected.

3. A counterbalance disconnecting device for use in a window assembly including a sliding sash and means forming a sashway therefor, and a sash counterbalance unit, the device releasably attaching a counterbalance tape to the sash, said device including a sash-mounted fixture providing a hook connection, a tape-carried fixture consisting of a vertically rigid element provided with a cross bar adapted to engage the hook connection, said tape-carried rigid element adapted to abut an upper element of the sashway as the connector and sash approach the top of the sashway, said sash mounted fixture including a sloping surface so shaped as to impart, as the sash is moved, a lateral shifting movement to the rigid element to detach same from thesash mounted fixture, whereby to provide for operative release of the sash from the tape, and-an abutment on the tape-carried fixture acting to arrest tape movement when the tape-carried fixture is brought to a predetermined position with respect to the sashway.

4. A releasable counterbalance connector for use with a sash and sashway-forming elements and a sash counterbalance, the latter including a tape, the connector comprising a pair of fixtures, one thereof carried by the tape and the other by the sash, said fixtures including a furcate member, thefurcations of which are spaced and shaped to constitute hooks, the companion fixture including an inverted T-shaped member including a head and a shank, the shank normally extending between the spaced furcations and the head bridging said furcations and straddled thereby, and means acting responsively to sash movement to separate the head and the hooks.

5. A detachable counterbalance connection for use with a sash and sashway-forming elements and a sash counterbalance, the latter including a tape, the connection comprising a pair of fixtures, one thereof carried by the tape and the other by the sash, said fixtures including a furcate member, the furcations of which are spaced and shaped to constitute hooks, the companion fixture including an inverted T-shaped member including a head and a shank, the shank normally extending between the spaced furcations and the head bridging said furcations and straddled thereby, means acting responsive to sash movement to separate the head and the hooks, and means on the tape-carried fixture to prevent movement of same out of the sashway, whereby upon sash removal, the last said'fixture remains in a position for reengagement by the sash-carried fixture upon insertion of the sash in the sashway. Y

6. A counterbalance disconnecting device for use with a'vertically sliding sash, elements forming a sashway in and along which the sash is movable, and a counterbalance assembly including a tape, the device comprising a pair of fix-' tures, one carried by the sash and the other secured-to the free end portion of the tape, one such fixture including an attachment plate-and a pair of fingers extended outwardly of said plate,

escapee the fingers being spaced from each other and formed to provide a hook, the other said fixture including a plate and shank, together with a cross bar on the shank, the shank being of a width to extend "between the spaced hooks, with the cross bar in engagement with the hooks, the shank and cross bars being sw'ingably mounted and adapted to be moved across the line of tape movement to shift the cross bar away from a normal seating position beneath said books.

7. A releasable connector for use in a window assembly, including means forming a sashwa-y, a sash slidab'ly mounted therein, a sash counterbalance :unit, and a flexible tape serving to oomplete an operative connection between the counterbalance unit and the sash, the connector comprising a fixture element carried by the sash, a companion fixture element detachably engageable with the first said element and carried by the tape, said fixture elements providing a detachable hook-type connector between the h and tape, one of said fixture elements includ g a finger formed to provide an inverted, substan tially v-shaped seat, the other fixture including a bar engaging and normally hooked into said :1.-

seat, and means on one of said fixtures adapted to act against an abutment in the sashway when such fixture isbrought to a predetermined place therein, to impart a separating movement to the bar and hook to shift the bar out of its normal hooked engagement with said seat.

8. A releasable connector for use in a window assembly including elements forming a sashway, a sliding sash removably disposed in said sashway, and a counterbalance including a tape for connection to the sash, the connector comprising a hook carried by the sash, a bar adapted to engage said hook, a normally vertical arm extended from said bar and having a connection with the tape, means establishing a sash position in the sashway at which the sash may be removed, said arm serving as a distance piece, acting upon and of a length to restrain the sash from its said position of removal, a manually shittable element on said arm, movable to a position such that the arm Will permit sash movement to said removal position, the bar being swinga'ble away from and out of connection with the hook, upon release of counterbalance tension on the tape.

'9. A detachable connector tor use in a window assembly including elements forming a sashway in which a sash is slidably operable, a sliding sash in said sashway, and a counterbalance including a tape for connection to the sash, the connector comprising a hook carried by the sash, a bar adapted to engage said book, a vertical shank extended from said bar and having a connection with the tape, the bar being swingable away from and out of connection with the hook, upon rolease of counterbalance tension on the tape, the shank connected to said bar including a cam arm extended laterally of the shank and adapted when the sash is in an upper position, to engage an upper element of the sashway, said arm being provided with a camming surface adapted upon such engagement, to swing the bar out oi. i-ts'normal position in the hook.

16. In a counterbalance disconnecting device for use in a window assembly including a sliding sash, elements forming a sashway alon which the sash is guidedly operable, a counterbalance serving the sash and a tape connecting the counterbalance to the sash, the combination oi a pa r of fixt r s se vin to. complete the connection between the tape and the sash, one of said fixtures carried by the sash and including a base and a laterally extended hook, the other fixture carried by the tape and including a rigid, vertical shank, a bar on a lower portion of the shank, adapted to interfit with said hook to establish the tension connection between the tape and the sash, the bar being laterally shiftable upon release of tension on the tape by the counterbalance, to separate the bar from the hook, and a catch movably supported on the tape-carried fixture and serving normally to prevent the separation of the hoc'kand bar, the catch being movable into a position to permit such separation.

11. A releasable sash and tape connector for use in a window assembly including a s'lidable sash, a sashway in which the sash is guidedly mounted, and from which it is manually removable by sash manipulation, a counterbalance, and a counterbalance tape, serving to complete the connection between the counterbalance and the sash, the sash and tape connector comprised of two fixtures, these consisting of a first fixture located at an upper marginal portion of the sash and including a mounting plate and an angular extension formed to provide a pair of spaced downturned fingers forming an inverted V-shaped hocking seat, the fingers being extended in a direction laterally of the sash, a second said fixture carried by and movable with the otherwise free end of the counterbalance tape, said second fixture including a channel and a rod element extending vertically below said channel, said rod provided with a transverse bar at its lower end, said rod element being of a width to extend between the fingers forming said hook of the first fixture, when the bar is in engagement with and in hooked relation to said first fixture for normally imparting the tension of the tape to the first fixture and thence to the sash, the second fixture including a swingable catch piv-- oted to the channel portion of the first fixture and provided with a laterally extended flange or foot at each side oi: the catch, the catch normally occupying a position on said secondfixture such that said flanges may be abutted by the sash and the upper end of the second fixture abutting an upper element of the sashway and acting as a distance piece to restrict upward movement of the sash when the second fixture is brought to a stop position, the catch being adapted for pivotal movement to bring said flanges out of a stop relation to the sash whereby to permit a release of the bar from the book, by movement of the sash, said second fixture being provided with a lateral camming extension, an upper surface of which bears an acute angled relation to the normal line of travel of the tape and second fixture, and which is adapted to abut an upper portion of the sashway and coacting therewith to impart a translatory movement of the second fixture to effect a separation of the bar thereon from the hook elements of the first fixture.

12. In a sash and counterbalance connector of readily detachable type, for use with a sliding sash and sashway equipped with a counterbalance serving the sash, the connector includin one fixture provided with spaced, downwardly and laterally extended fingers forming a hook, the other fixture including a vertical shank and a cross bar on the shank, the shank normally extending between said fingers with the bar seated in hooked, engagement beneath said fingers, and camming means on the fixture containing said fingers and extending across the normal line of travel of the tape and said bar, and adapted 13 upon release of counterbalance tension on the bar, to defiect the bar out of position for engagement with the hook.

13. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited by claim 12 but further particularized in that the said camming means is comprised of a pair of fingers below the hook-forming fingers of the sash carried fixture, with the camming fingers on opposite sides of the normal line of travel of the tape.

14. In a separable connection for use between a counterbalance tape and a sliding window sash of removable type, a sash-carried fixture including a channel element, the sides of the channel of which are extended to form laterally extended, downturned fingers, those fingers being laterally spaced on opposite sides of the line of tape travel, said fingers being formed to provide an inverted v-shaped hooking recess; a

second fixture of the connector arranged for at- I tachment to a tape connected to a sash counterbalance unit, and including an apertured plate in its upper portion whereby a bight of the tape may be extended through said aperture, a rigid shank extended below the apertured portion, a cross bar or head in the lower region of said shank, and normally bridging an uppermost pair of said fingers and in hooked engagement with the V- shaped recesses thereof, and a pivoted stop bar carried by said second fixture, and adapted to be swung about its pivot to arrest the movement of the tape carried fixture, beyond a predetermined point, and so as to hold captive the second said fixture in a position to permit disengagement thereof from the first mentioned sash-carried fixture, and to facilitate reconnection of said fixtures incident to removal and reinsertion of the sash.

15. In a separable connection for use between a counterbalance tape and a sliding window sash of removable type, a sash-carried fixture including a channel element, the sides of the channel of which are extended to form vertically spaced pairs of laterally extended, downturned fingers, those fingers of each pair being laterally spaced on opposite sides of the line of tape travel, an upper pair of said fingers being formed to provide an inverted V-shaped hooking recess, and certain of said fingers having bottom acute angle surfaces adapted upon release of tension on the counterbalance tape, as camming surfaces; a second fixture of the connector arranged for attachment to a tape connected to a sash counterbalance unit, and including an apertured plate in its upper portion whereby a bight of the tape may be extended through said aperture, a relatively narrow rigid shank extended below the apertured portion, a cross bar or head in the lower region of said shank, and normally bridging an uppermost pair of said fingers and in hooked engagement with the V-shaped recesses thereof, and a pivoted stop bar carried by said second fixture, and adapted to be swung about its pivot to arrest the movement of the tape carried fixture, beyond a predetermined point, and so as to hold captive the second said fixture in a position to permit disengagement thereof from the first mentioned sash-carried fixture, and to facilitate reconnection of said fixture incident to removal and reinsertion of the sash, said fixtures being manipulable by movement of the sash and first fixture to effect a camming actuation of said cross bar by said camming surfaces to bring the bar selectively into and out of hooked relation to the fingers, whereby to make and break the sashtape connection.

16. In a counterbalance disconnecting device for use in a window assembly including elements forming a guiding sashway, a sash member guidedly movable therein and manually removable therefrom, together with a counterbalance serving the sash and provisions for manual removal and reinsertion of the sash without disassembly of the sash elements, the combination of a pair of fixtures serving as a connector between a counterbalance tape and the sash, one of said fixtures consisting of a hook carried by the sash, the other said fixture consisting of a rigid, normally vertical element attached to the tape of the counterbalance, and a bar on said element adapted to engage the hook of the first said fixture, the counterbalance including a casing hav ing a downwardly presented tape aperture, opposite sides or the counterbalance casing being provided with downwardly opening recesses, and a stop arm pivotally carried by said rigid member of the tape-carried fixture, the stop arm being adapted for movement about its pivot to bring same to a bridging relation to the tape opening of the counterbalance, and seated in said recess, whereby when the tape-carried fixture is moved to a position adjacent the counterbalance, the seating of said arm in the recesses serves to relieve the tape and tape-carried fixture of tension on the sash and sash-carried fixture, thereby facilitating removal and reapplication of the sash.

EARL M. TRAMMELL, SR. EARL M. TRAMMELL, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 782,086 Vache Feb. 7, 1905 1,070,852 Stanecky Aug. 19, 1913 1,932,906 Muir et a1. Oct. 31, 1933 

